TORONTO — While destinations including Jamaica and the Cayman Islands have given the all-clear in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, other destinations are in need of help, and meanwhile Texas is shaking off the storm’s hit.
Hurricane Beryl swept into Texas earlier today with heavy rains and powerful winds, knocking out power to 1.5 million homes and businesses and flooding streets with fast-rising waters as first responders raced to rescue stranded residents.
Beryl had already cut a deadly path through parts of Mexico and the Caribbean before turning toward Texas. The Category 1 hurricane hit land just before 4 a.m. today, then weakened to a tropical storm about five hours later.
The National Hurricane Center said damaging winds and flash flooding will continue as Beryl continues pushing inland. At least one death was reported.
High waters quickly began to close streets in storm-weary Houston, which was again under flood warnings after heavy storms in recent months washed out neighbourhoods.
Three times during its one week of life, Beryl has gained 35 mph (56 kph) in wind speed in 24 hours or less, the official weather service definition of rapid intensification.
Beryl’s growth into an unprecedented early whopper of a storm indicates the hot water of the Atlantic and Caribbean and what the Atlantic hurricane belt can expect for the rest of the storm season, experts said.
In Louisiana, heavy bands of rain are expected all day Monday and “the risk is going to be for that heavy rainfall and potential for flash flooding,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Donald Jones.
Airlines including WestJet have updates for passengers.
CAYMAN ISLANDS GIVES ALL-CLEAR
Just before the weekend the all-clear was issued for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac following the passage of Hurricane Beryl, with no reports of injuries to residents or visitors on any of the three Islands. Clean-up operations were underway.
In providing an update on the tourism sector, Kenneth Bryan, Minister for Tourism and Ports for Cayman Islands, said that there may be minor inconveniences due to ongoing clean-up, however those were expected to wrap up quickly.
“We look forward to inviting all travellers to experience the warmth, beauty and hospitality that the Cayman Islands is known for, and we are dedicated to making their stays as special as possible,” he said.
CHALLENGES IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
The situation is much more challenging in parts of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, although it’s important to note that some but not all of the islands in the SVG chain were hit hard.
A statement from the islands said: “St. Vincent and the Grenadines was heavily impacted by the passage of Hurricane Beryl … In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Dr. The Honourable Ralph Gonsalves noted that Union Island in particular has been devastated, with 90% of houses either severely damaged or destroyed.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Minister of Tourism Carlos James assured visitors “that as a resilient nation, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will recover from this devastation and looks forward to welcoming visitors once again to our beautiful 32 islands and cays.”
As reported earlier, One Caribbean Canada has created a page of approved and registered charities or approved government disaster relief funds to aid those countries most impacted by Hurricane Beryl. One Caribbean Canada is the brainchild of industry veteran Nancy Drolet, who headed up the Caribbean Tourism Organization in Canada before it shut down in 2019.
The site is frequently updated, mostly recently this morning. Check it out here: https://onecaribbeancanada.ca/hurricane-updates/
With file from The Associated Press
